I cannot imagine Joni Mitchell not locating new relevance in her songwriting and voice if she absolutely wanted to:  She’s always been art-fringe vanguard & art-fringe vanguard she can remain; I’d have a listen. 

The Stones still do “The Stones” better than anybody else, so if you like The Stones, then so be it, let them play graveyards & upscale bar mitzvahs ~~ fresh blood transfusions every 3,000 miles.  

I regret not seeing Madonna perform circa Like a Virgin/True Blue (she grew more wood than a rainforest), but I probably would not go see a show today.  Please stay home, be an overachiever “mommy\producer" 

Sir Elton John can sing and play piano forever as far as I’m concerned ~ he’s earned that much … and can still well-up a tearjerker every now & then.   

Bryan Adams has stepped aside to make room for Ryan Adams, and good for all of us.

The Who & the Kinks (& the Black Crowes) can retire (with Duke McC) in comfort &/or oblivion, whichever they prefer.

I never really got into Carly Simon; peace and love to her & those who cherish her. 

Def Leppard are old ... & Whitesnake are moldy ~ so last-century baby.   But I cannot imagine denying anybody their stand, so hey if you want some go get some … I say. 

…Critics are mostly baloney to themselves & to their community ~~ so all of the above is useless drivel. 

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Musically speaking, I don’t need a lot of new input to be happy.  There is so little new under the sun … & big@l has set free most of it.  I hope Xavier Rudd stays home with his kids for a decade (being an apt daddy of a beachcombing dad); his present body of music will never grow unappealing to me. & One day, someday…if it’s somewhere in the cosmic primordial stew to become a tangibility for you & me, for all to see & hear & reel in, I’d love (I’m using the word “love” here) to one day put a sequel to Triage (in all it’s melancholic & world-weary poignancy, deep wells of sound, & briny ides of springtime good lovin’) in the disc player & go for a looong drive in a comfortable (fuel efficient) car. 

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Saw the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies kill the whole place dead in a (muggier inside than it was outside) shit dive last night with friends and family.  The shit dive can stay dead, far as I’m concerned, but the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies should know new global relevance ASAP; they’re tight as a 4-bolt main and a consummate show band that never missed a beat … while keeping it very real down-to-earth whimsical & charismatic … & tunefully outstanding ~~ simply a damn-good band.  If you think they’re just a remnant of the swing band brouhaha, you’ve never heard them play ska live. Jason Moss, guitar, get some.